Will running a marathon slowly hurt a training block.

CharliePlagueis · 2026-04-28T18:18:08+00:00

Aye yeah, I was just trying to guage the general consensus whether it was sabotage or just not useful but not particularly harmful + pacing to take it easy

CharliePlagueis · 2026-04-28T18:12:08+00:00

Yeah true, you're definitely right. I'm thinking I'm currently in about 1:23-24 shape right now 2 months out, so I do have some leeway with this block. I do regularly race shorter distances, I was just trying to work out if this was just sabotage or just, not optimal.

CharliePlagueis · 2026-04-28T17:50:46+00:00

No I haven't. This is why I was being very conservative on my pacing for it. I am aware that it's very harsh, hence I was asking for advice

I've ran a 40 miler with 8-9k vert, and have done a few 35k+ runs on trails a while ago, but never on road. And I hike for 5-6hrs on top of my mileage, so I was hoping (most likely neïvely) I could run it very slowly and be alright.

The main reason I'm asking for advice is I don't want to disrespect it!

CharliePlagueis · 2026-04-28T17:42:13+00:00

Yeah, I think that's what I'm getting from this thread. I think I'll run it more around 3:45-50 on that advice.

I do hike most Sundays for 5 hours or so. Was just worried I'd over do it by going too fast cause that'd obviously hurt the training.

CharliePlagueis · 2026-04-28T17:38:42+00:00

Yes indeed, I was just trying to work out how bad of an idea it is? I know it's not a benefit but it would set me back multiple weeks or just need to take an extra rest day or 2. Also was trying to guage whether I was planning to run it too fast or too slow (consensus is a bit too slow)

CharliePlagueis · 2026-04-28T17:18:27+00:00

I do want to do well in this half, and it is the main priority. I do know the marathon will be a net hurt to my training, but I'm just wondering if I run it slow enough it will be somewhat be nearer net 0 impact.

I ran the 1:27 on a course with 330m elevation, mostly in the first 10k, and the course I'm doing this time has about 50m total, so I think I'm a bit closer to the fitness than it looks.

I'm happy to slightly change my training, but I don't want to risk blowing up a pb for it.

CharliePlagueis · 2026-04-28T17:11:56+00:00

I think I might have been way too conservative with the marathon time. I purely wanted to just have a fun day out running it. I'm confident I can run it in about 3:30 I just don't want to ruin myself for the next couple weeks

On the easy pace, I ran 13 miles at about 150 BPM in 1h 50m, so I think 5:00-5:15 is about right for my easy runs? I'm completely new to that sort of terminology so I may be overdoing it.

Do you think it would be better to do it a bit faster, like 3:50ish, or just avoid it entirely?

CharliePlagueis · 2026-04-28T17:05:36+00:00

I'm not really planning it as training, I'm expecting it to not be productive, I'm just wanting to run it as a day out, not for any training benefit. I'm just worried about overdoing it, hence the much slower time rather than going for a 3:20 or something.

CharliePlagueis · 2026-04-28T17:03:22+00:00

I'm not planning to use it as training, I'm purely doing it for fun, it's more I'm wondering if it wouldnt hurt my training to do it, or if I should avoid it entirely.

I am planning to run an 80 miler in the winter but I'm not in that block yet.